Birchills Church of England Community Academy

Walsall · WS2 8NF

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 442 pupils, 42.7% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 17.2% on SEN support Behaviour 7.5% absence rate Staff 12.8% turnover Financials £6,947 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Birchills Church of England Community Academy

General Information

Address: Farringdon Street, Walsall, WS2 8NF – View on map
Phone: 01922721063
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Miss G Poole
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 48 families put it first for 51 places – 9 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 9 · 2024 10 · 2025 10 · 2026 9
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

442 pupils out of 420 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 172
% eligible for free school meals: 42.7%
Pupil mix: 8 in 10 (more mixed than the Walsall average)
English as an additional language: 55% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 12.8% a year (Walsall 14.6%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 14% moved to another school, 86% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Walsall: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 5 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 4 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 2 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Walsall, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 7.5%
Persistently absent pupils: 27.3%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 17.2%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 2.3%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 31 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 26 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 7 pupils
Other difficulty or disability: 6 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 3 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 6 pupils
Severe learning difficulty: 2 pupils
Other difficulty or disability: 2 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2024 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 37% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 0% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 25 percentage points below the Walsall average (62%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well below (3-year average 35% against an expected 58%)
3-year average (expected standard): 35%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 53% · Writing 45% · Maths 42% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 50%
Average test scores: reading 102, maths 100
Based on: 60 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolWalsall averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 25 percentage points below the Walsall average (62%).

Year 6 SATs: 57th of 61 junior and primary schools in the area

#55Lodge Farm Primary School39%
#56Bentley West Primary School38%
#57Birchills Church of England Community Academy37%
#58All Saints National Academy36%
#59Greenfield Primary School34%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Streetly100%
#2St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School88%
=3Reedswood E-ACT Academy83%
=3St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School83%
=5Blackwood School79%
=5New Invention Learning Academy79%
=7County Bridge Primary School77%
=7Millfield Primary School77%
=7St Giles Church of England Primary School77%
=7Walsall Wood School77%
=11Bloxwich Academy75%
=11Goldsmith Primary Academy75%
=13Kings Hill Primary School74%
=13St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston74%
#15St Mary's The Mount Catholic Primary School73%
=16St Michael's Church of England C Primary School72%
=16St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Bloxwich72%
=16Woods Bank Academy72%
=19Blue Coat Church of England Aided Junior School70%
=19Whitehall Junior Community School70%
=21Manor Primary School69%
=21Woodlands Academy of Learning69%
=23Butts Primary School68%
=23Lower Farm Primary School68%
=23Park Hall Junior Academy68%
=23Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Early Years Centre68%
=27Salisbury Primary School67%
=27St Francis Catholic Primary School67%
#29St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Walsall66%
=30Chuckery Primary School64%
=30Leighswood School64%
=30St John's Church of England Primary School64%
=33Cooper and Jordan Church of England Primary School63%
=33Leamore Primary School63%
=33Ryders Hayes School63%
#36Jubilee Academy Mossley62%
=37Croft Academy60%
=37North Walsall Primary Academy60%
=39Busill Jones Primary School59%
=39Whetstone Field Primary School59%
=41Caldmore Primary Academy57%
=41Watling Street Primary School57%
#43Brownhills West Primary School55%
=44Fibbersley Park Academy54%
=44Rivers Primary Academy54%
#46Alumwell Junior School53%
#47St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School52%
#48Edgar Stammers Primary Academy50%
#49Palfrey Junior School49%
#50Elmore Green Primary School48%
#51King Charles Primary School46%
#52Radleys Primary School45%
#53Pinfold Street Primary School44%
#54Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School41%
#55Lodge Farm Primary School39%
#56Bentley West Primary School38%
#57Birchills Church of England Community Academy37%
#58All Saints National Academy36%
#59Greenfield Primary School34%
#60Short Heath Junior School33%
#61Pelsall Village School18%

View full Ofsted inspection report

5th of 50 primary schools in Walsall for Ofsted rating

#3All Saints National AcademyGood
#4Barcroft AcademyGood
#5Birchills Church of England Community AcademyGood
#6Butts Primary SchoolGood
#7Castlefort AcademyGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Beacon AcademyOutstanding
#2St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, DarlastonOutstanding
#3All Saints National AcademyGood
#4Barcroft AcademyGood
#5Birchills Church of England Community AcademyGood
#6Butts Primary SchoolGood
#7Castlefort AcademyGood
#8Christ Church Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#9Chuckery Primary SchoolGood
#10Cooper and Jordan Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#11County Bridge Primary SchoolGood
#12Edgar Stammers Primary AcademyGood
#13Elmore Green Primary SchoolGood
#14Fibbersley Park AcademyGood
#15Greenfield Primary SchoolGood
#16Holy Trinity Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#17King Charles Primary SchoolGood
#18Lindens AcademyGood
#19Little Bloxwich CofE VC Primary SchoolGood
#20Lodge Farm Primary SchoolGood
#21Lower Farm Primary SchoolGood
#22Manor Primary SchoolGood
#23Meadow View AcademyGood
#24Millfield Primary SchoolGood
#25Moorcroft Wood AcademyGood
#26North Walsall Primary AcademyGood
#27Old Church Church of England C Primary SchoolGood
#28Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Early Years CentreGood
#29Pinfold Street Primary SchoolGood
#30Radleys Primary SchoolGood
#31Rushall Primary SchoolGood
#32Ryders Hayes SchoolGood
#33Salisbury Primary SchoolGood
#34St Bernadette's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#35St Francis Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#36St Giles Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#37St James AcademyGood
#38St John's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#39St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#40St Michael's Church of England C Primary SchoolGood
#41St Peter's Catholic Primary School, BloxwichGood
#42St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#43Walsall Wood SchoolGood
#44Watling Street Primary SchoolGood
#45Whetstone Field Primary SchoolGood
#46Woodlands Academy of LearningGood
#47Woods Bank AcademyGood
#48Bentley West Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#49Hillary Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#50Pool Hayes Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,947 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

33rd of 56 primary schools in Walsall for spending per pupil

#31Radleys Primary School£7,035
#32Watling Street Primary School£7,011
#33Birchills Church of England Community Academy£6,947
#34St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston£6,919
#35Lower Farm Primary School£6,897

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1All Saints National Academy£8,601
#2St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School£8,355
#3Woods Bank Academy£8,043
#4Busill Jones Primary School£7,932
#5Croft Academy£7,922
#6St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Walsall£7,814
#7Ryders Hayes School£7,803
#8Butts Primary School£7,799
#9Edgar Stammers Primary Academy£7,727
#10King Charles Primary School£7,638
#11Bentley West Primary School£7,613
#12Pelsall Village School£7,545
#13Pinfold Street Primary School£7,484
#14North Walsall Primary Academy£7,444
#15Millfield Primary School£7,428
#16St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School£7,411
#17Leamore Primary School£7,400
#18Elmore Green Primary School£7,391
#19Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Early Years Centre£7,321
#20Brownhills West Primary School£7,309
#21Walsall Wood School£7,298
#22Greenfield Primary School£7,272
#23Salisbury Primary School£7,255
#24St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Bloxwich£7,248
#25Kings Hill Primary School£7,240
#26Leighswood School£7,225
#27County Bridge Primary School£7,147
#28St Mary's The Mount Catholic Primary School£7,101
#29Jubilee Academy Mossley£7,072
#30Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School£7,043
#31Radleys Primary School£7,035
#32Watling Street Primary School£7,011
#33Birchills Church of England Community Academy£6,947
#34St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston£6,919
#35Lower Farm Primary School£6,897
#36Goldsmith Primary Academy£6,863
#37Caldmore Primary Academy£6,806
#38Chuckery Primary School£6,746
#39Whetstone Field Primary School£6,617
#40St John's Church of England Primary School£6,563
#41Woodlands Academy of Learning£6,538
#42Lodge Farm Primary School£6,534
#43St Giles Church of England Primary School£6,530
#44Fibbersley Park Academy£6,524
#45Manor Primary School£6,480
#46Reedswood E-ACT Academy£6,438
#47St Francis Catholic Primary School£6,406
#48St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School£6,352
#49Rivers Primary Academy£6,344
#50St Michael's Church of England C Primary School£6,134
#51St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Streetly£6,059
#52Cooper and Jordan Church of England Primary School£5,871
#53Blackwood School£5,592
#54Christ Church Church of England Primary School£5,117
#55Rushall Primary School£2,449
#56Hillary Primary School£1,742

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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